Mortgagee-Sale Listings Hit Six-Year High in H1 2026 as Financing Conditions Tighten

Mortgagee-Sale Listings Hit Six-Year High in H1 2026 as Financing Conditions Tighten

PROPERTY AUCTIONS | BUSINESS TIMES | JUL 29, 2026

Singapore’s property auction market saw mortgagee-sale listings climb to their highest level since 2019, with ETC recording 216 such listings in the first half of 2026. Tighter financing conditions are pushing more properties to auction, though analysts say the trend reflects selectivity rather than broad market distress.

216
Mortgagee-sale listings H1
+31%
From H2 2025 (165)
292
Total auction listings H1
S$27.7M
Auction sales H1

Mortgagee-Sale Listings Surge

ETC recorded 216 mortgagee-sale listings in H1 2026, the highest level since 2019, when 321 listings were reported in the second half. The H1 2026 tally was up 31 per cent from 165 in the preceding six-month period, and 29 per cent from 168 in H1 2025.

Mortgagee-sale listings accounted for nearly three-quarters of the 292 auction listings in H1 2026, up from about two-thirds in H2 2025.

“The larger proportion of mortgagee-sale listings in this first half of the year is reflective of tighter financing conditions in the current macro environment,” said ETC head of auction and sales Joy Tan.

Knight Frank similarly reported an increase, seeing 109 mortgagee-sale listings in Q2 2026, 5.8 per cent higher than in the preceding quarter. “It was the second consecutive quarter that mortgagee listings exceeded the 100 mark, a level not seen since Q1 2021, when 117 listings were recorded during the pandemic,” said Tan Tee Khoon, Knight Frank head of auction and sales. “This could be a sign of banks and lending institutions starting to act on non-performing mortgages as financial pressures increase.”

Knight Frank’s Q2 mortgagee-sale listings comprised 53 residential properties, 42 industrial assets, eight retail shops and six office units.

Owner-Sale Listings Decline

In contrast, owner-sale listings totalled 53 in H1 2026, down 20.9 per cent from the previous six months and 38.4 per cent lower year on year. This also marked the lowest level since 2016, when 191 such listings were recorded.

ETC’s Tan attributed the decline to a healthy resale market, which has allowed borrowers to dispose of their properties on the open market ahead of foreclosure.

Other auction listings, including estate, trustee, MCST, liquidator, receiver, bailiff and sheriff sales, stood at 23 in H1 2026, falling 17.9 per cent from the previous six-month period, though the figure was up 53.3 per cent from a year earlier.

“It is important to view the market as a whole ecosystem, rather than isolating any single segment. While the increase in mortgagee listings is driven by tighter financing conditions, we must also assess this alongside the owner-sale activity. Taken together, these trends reflect a market that remains selective rather than a signal of distress,” said ETC’s Tan.

Auction Sales and Notable Deals

Auction sales totalled S$27.7 million in H1 2026, with 13 properties changing hands primarily across the residential and industrial segments.

Notable deals included a terrace house at Carisbrooke Grove that fetched S$5.2 million, a single-storey intermediate terrace in Geylang that transacted at S$3.5 million, and a strata-titled two-storey factory with a basement at Paya Ubi Industrial Park that sold for S$1.85 million.

ETC data showed that residential properties remained the largest category, with 144 listings accounting for 49.3 per cent of the total. Industrial properties followed with 87 listings, or a share of 29.8 per cent, up from 58 in H2 2025 and 61 in H1 2025. The increase in industrial listings was driven largely by units in B1 and B2 strata factories, most of which had fewer than 30 years remaining on their leases.

Retail properties accounted for 46 listings, or 15.8 per cent of the total, extending their decline from 52 in H2 2025 and 63 in H1 2025. ETC attributed the fall to “healthy occupancy, tight supply and the rapid absorption of vacant units by new entrants.”

Outlook for H2 2026

Analysts expect auction activity to stay resilient in H2 2026, particularly in the residential and industrial segments. “Even though overall market conditions have become more selective in light of economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, value-driven demand remains evident, particularly among purchasers seeking assets with attractive entry prices, redevelopment potential or for immediate use,” said Knight Frank’s Tan Tee Khoon.

He noted younger buyers being active in the residential auction market, seeking competitively priced homes or upgrading opportunities. ETC’s Tan expects the total value of auction sales in H2 2026 to “maintain a modest but steady pace.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What drove the increase in mortgagee-sale listings?

Tighter financing conditions in the current macro environment are the primary driver. Banks and lending institutions appear to be acting more decisively on non-performing mortgages as financial pressures increase, according to Knight Frank.

Which property types are most affected?

Residential properties accounted for the largest share at 49.3 per cent of total auction listings, followed by industrial properties at 29.8 per cent. The rise in industrial listings was driven mainly by B1 and B2 strata factory units with fewer than 30 years remaining on their leases.

Does the rise signal broader market distress?

Analysts say no. While mortgagee-sale listings have risen, owner-sale listings have fallen sharply as borrowers are able to sell on the open market ahead of foreclosure. ETC described the trend as “selective rather than a signal of distress.”

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